Types of lung cancer treatment

Recovering from lung cancer is not impossible. There are various treatment options for lung cancer that can be undertaken based on the stages of the lung cancer stage the patient is experiencing. Usually, the doctor will help determine which treatment options are suitable for the patient's health condition. Check out a complete explanation of the various treatment options for lung cancer below.

Various options for treatment of lung cancer

There are several ways to treat lung cancer, but depending on the type of cancer and how far the cancer has spread. Here are some types of treatment you need to know.

1. Operation

When the doctor undergoes a surgical procedure, he will remove the cancerous tissue with some healthy tissue. There are several surgical procedure options for lung cancer that are usually selected based on the patient's health condition.

• Lobectomy

In this operation, a large part of the lung, called a lobe, is removed. Doctors usually perform this surgery as a treatment for lung cancer if the cancer is still in one part of the lung.

• Pneumonectomy

Meanwhile, pneumonectomy is a surgical procedure where all the lung organs are removed. Usually, this operation is done when the cancer is in the middle of the lung or has spread to all parts of the lung organs.

• Segmentectomy

This surgical procedure is performed by removing a small portion of the lung, and this procedure is usually only suitable for a limited number of patients with certain conditions.

Usually, the doctor will perform this lung cancer surgery as a treatment option if he feels that the cancer is still small and is only in one part of the lung.

Meanwhile, if this cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the doctor will recommend chemotherapy or radiotherapy before undergoing surgery. The goal is to reduce the size of the cancer.

If after undergoing surgery there is a risk that there are remaining cancer cells, or the cancer may reappear, the doctor will recommend chemotherapy or radiotherapy after surgery.

2. Radiotherapy

Another type of treatment that can also be done for lung cancer is radiotherapy. This treatment usually uses light with a high enough energy, comes from rays such as X-rays and protons to kill cancer cells.

During radiotherapy, you will be asked to lie on a table for the procedure. Meanwhile, the radiotherapy machine will move around you to direct radiation to specific parts of the body.

For patients who have experienced a fairly severe stage of lung cancer, radiation will be carried out before or after surgery. Usually, this radiation therapy is combined with other treatments, such as chemotherapy.

If surgery is not one of the treatment options that suit your condition, doctors will usually recommend radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy.

According to National Health Security, radiotherapy can be done to help control the symptoms of lung cancer that appear, such as pain and coughing up blood. In addition, radiotherapy can also help slow the spread of cancer when the condition becomes irreversible.

One type of radiotherapy is known as prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is sometimes used during treatment for lung cancer types small-cell lung cancer . PCI is performed to treat all parts of the brain with low doses of radiation.

This is usually done to prevent lung cancer, which has the potential to spread to the brain.

3. Chemotherapy

This treatment for lung cancer is usually done for both types of lung cancer, viz non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer .

• Chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer

Basically, chemotherapy is the main treatment for this type of lung cancer. This is because this type of cancer responds very well to chemotherapy. In addition, this type usually has spread beyond the lungs when diagnosed.

One of the lung cancer treatment options is usually using drugs to kill cancer cells. Usually, this drug is given periodically through several chemotherapy which is done over weeks or months.

Of course, from one chemotherapy to chemotherapy you will be given a break so you can undergo recovery. In general, chemotherapy is done alone, but it can also be combined with radiotherapy.

If this treatment is combined with radiation therapy, chemotherapy can be done before, after, or at the same time as the therapy.

• Chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer

Chemotherapy also includes the right treatment for non-small cell lung cancer . Usually, chemotherapy is done either before or after surgery for lung cancer.

If done before surgery, chemotherapy usually aims to shrink the size of the cancer or make it easier for the cancer to be removed.

As a treatment for this type of lung cancer, chemotherapy can help reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. However, the doctor will inform you in advance about the advantages and potential risks of chemotherapy.

In addition, drugs used for lung cancer chemotherapy can have certain side effects. Usually, chemotherapy is a fairly effective treatment if the patient's condition is classified as fit.

However, chemotherapy can also be done for cancer that is already at a quite severe stage. This means that if the cancer has spread beyond the lungs, one of the most effective ways to treat lung cancer is chemotherapy.

4. Targeted therapy

Another treatment that can be done to treat lung cancer is targeted therapy. This therapy uses drugs that function to block the target growth and spread of cancer cells.

Although this therapy can be done by all these cancer patients, usually treatment using targeted therapy methods is given to patients who experience cancer again after recovering from this cancer, or patients whose cancer stages are already at a fairly severe stage.

5. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses the immune system in the body to fight cancer. The problem is, the immune system in the body may not be able to attack cancer cells because these cells produce protein.

That way, these cells can hide from cells produced by the immune system. Meanwhile, immunotherapy works by blocking this process. This means that the immune system may be able to attack cancer cells with this therapy.

This cancer treatment is usually given to cancer patients that have spread to other parts of the body or can be said to have had cancer at a fairly severe stage.

6. Laser therapy

There are also other types of lung cancer treatment that can be done, namely laser therapy. This therapy is performed by using a focused beam to destroy cancer cells.

However, unlike other types of lung cancer therapy or treatment, this therapy is used as a companion treatment. Usually, this therapy is done if the cancer has blocked the passage of breathing and makes the patient feel short of breath.

In addition to the various treatments for lung cancer that have been mentioned above, patients can also adopt a healthy lifestyle for lung cancer patients as a way to deal with lung cancer naturally.

One example is quitting smoking. In addition, smoking is one of the main causes of lung cancer that should be avoided.